"R. J. Saved Our College"

by Dr. Richard Shearer, former President Alderson-Broaddus College

"Thanksgiving that year, 1952, was drab and uneventful. A winter flurry had warned of things to come but blewitself out in a few hours like a first adolescent love experience. Rudy and I reminisced about the Thanksgivingweek two years before when we had first visited the college in Philippi and got caught in the big snow of 1950.

We took the children to the Shearer grandparents in Connellsville from Wednesday afternoon throughThanksgiving dinner and then drove to Weirton to see the Mansbergers for another Thanksgiving dinner thatevening. The family returned to the campus amid heavy rain on Friday afternoon. I wanted to hurry back tointerview a new business manager and to deal with some inner rumblings among the faculty resulting from somepressures and changes that had been initiated. I needed to get caught up with the stack of correspondence still onmy deck, and it was easier to try to do it when most of the students and faculty were off campus.

The college was able to pay faculty salaries for November through a short-term loan of $10,000 from the localbank. Considerable effort had been made to secure a larger loan, but the bank refused. Even then, the smallerloan was possible only because three of the trustees of some substance and I were willing to endorse the notepersonally, making ourselves liable if the college was not able to honor the obligations in the six-month periodallotted. This meant we had a thirty-day extension of life until December salaries would be due. The seriousness ofthe situation was kept from the faculty and students, but most of them could sense a grave financial problem.

I remembered hearing of a visitor at Commencement two years before, an industrialist by the name of R. J.Funkhouser. The interim president, Dr. Clarence Kemper and a professor, John Ward Brown, had made the firstcontacts with Funkhouser, arranging for a visit to campus and the granting of an honorary degree. The contact hadgone well during that first visit, but the expectation of some financial help had not materialized.

I learned that when the stakes are high financially, most colleges do not ask outright for money. They simplypresent the needs and hope and pray for the response to come. But A-B was not yet in the position to rely on thehope that the institution could commend itself automatically as a good investment to philanthropists.

Since his visit to campus, Funkhouser had moved to the eastern shore of Maryland, somewhat disgruntled overbad politics in West Virginia. Even though the industrialist was a native of the mountain state, I could not be surehow much this move might affect the business man's interests, R. J. had already started to support a college nearhis new home in Maryland.

A person visit seemed the only avenue of hope left. I telephoned and after some hesitation Funkhouser agreed toan appointment for me to visit the multi-millionaire at his estate just east of Centreville, Maryland, during the firstweek of December. Ruth and I talked openly about the visit.

"You had better go alone, this time," she observed. "When I'm along, people think they have to entertain us, andthis time you're going for business."

Iwasn't sure whether her words were meant to denote encouragement or despair, but together we planned andmulled over the anticipated visit.

The day was clear, cold and radiant in a way that only the pure atmosphere of the hills and the country will allow.Packed in my small briefcase were an extra shirt, razor, pajamas and toothbrush-standard traveling equipment fora two-day jaunt and light enough to carry distances on foot in case of a forced landing. It had happened before. The8-mile trip to the little field at the Simpson's farm always seemed longer going than returning, and conversationwas usually brief and of a general nature. I drove to the airport so Rudy could drive the car back and have it forher personal use while I was away.

She went along with the flying idea now but was not entirely sold on its safety or practicality. She had plenty ofargument on her side, but fortunately my records was improving. Conversation on that December morning laggedmore than ever. As we kissed goodbye, each one could sense that the other felt the gravity of the financialdilemma at the college. I held her close, seeking poise and strength. The response of her whole being encouragedme that morning as it had so often before in our eight and half years of marriage.

I pulled the silver Ercoupe plane from the hanger. It looked fragile and unresponsive. I marveled again over themen and minds who had engineered these flying machines, but the trip east was going to be over new mountainousterrain and big cities for the first time. I was thankful for clear skies because it was necessary to have at least5,500 feet altitude to get over the West Virginia mountains to the east. The Washington-Baltimore area wouldprobably be filled with planes, and then the desired route would cross the Chesapeake Bay between two FAArestricted zones.

The motor caught at the first turn of the prop, and this time I had the accelerator set right. In eight to ten minutesall items were checked and the plane and I were charging down the field into a southwesterly 5-mile-an-hour wind.It took only half of the runway to become airborne. The Ercoupe was light and responsive. Load always mde adifference, as did wind and temperature. The plane performed better and the air was usually smooth on a clear,cold day. Wen the Ercoupe was about fifty feet in the air, I waved from the cockpit to the small human figurestanding alone and waving back from the ground below, my wonderful wife, Ruth.

Good visibility permitted easy navigation, and a slight tail wind hurried the little 90-horsepower plane on its way.Although the high mountain ridges made necessary greater altitude, the broader valleys between made emergencylanding fields easier to spot. I was gaining more confidence in this plane, but it was without many neededinstruments and radios. The Shenandoah Valley at Winchester was broad and comforting, with the last ridge aheadat Harper's Ferry. God's creation seemed all the more wonderful from the air, and a clear day like this inspired asong: "Those high notes seemed at 5,500 feet. Why can't I sing that way when I am on the ground?" I thought as Ireached a high F flat that in a burst of song, "It is well, it well with my soul."

Washington looked more expansive than ever, and the center of the city looked intriguing with the ostentatiousnational monuments and parks. Time had to be spent on check-points, air traffic, and compliance with FAAregulations for small aircraft. I was not anxious to tangle with another ship - remembering the deal with Ruth andknowing I had had my last chance at any major error. The Chesapeake was blue and calm, with freighters spottedon the water at irregular intervals. They seemed to move slowly. The new bridge across the bay looked narrow andfrail from 5,500 feet but seemed a marvel of scientific engineering. The sight of the eastern shore was relaxing. Istill preferred flying over land, even though it was mountainous, than over cities. I landed at the Centreville,Maryland airport to get directions to the Raskob estate, I think Raskob was the main investor and planner of theEmpire State Building in new York City). R. J. Funkhouser was now the estate owner. My hope was to find a fieldand land close to the main residence. (Of course, later I became strictly an airport-to-airport pilot, but in the earlydays, I thought the Escoupe could land and take off nearly anywhere.) I left the Centreville airport, followingdirections, and headed for the estate. "Pioneer Point Farms" loomed ahead on the left. I could spot it by the redriled rooves on the galaxy of buildings.

The estate of over 1000 acres was located on an imposing peninsula jutting into the Chesapeake Bay with ashoreline skirting half the estate. It looked like a good spot for many sports - swimming, sailing, and duck hunting.If there were duck hunters below, I hoped they would not mistake me for a giant mallard. I circled the estatelooking for a field in which to land and chose the pasture next to the large mansion. The landing was executedwithout incident. The field was not as smooth as it had looked from the air, but it wasn't different from theSimpson's farm on the other side of the Appalachian Mountains. Fortunately, I encountered no unseen groundhogholes.

Several servants had seen the plane circling, and by the time I landed and taxied up to the gate, the chauffeur andarrived in a long black limousine to escort me to "Heartfelt House." Mr. Funkhouser made a quick friendlyappearance and indicated that he had reserved the evening for a long chat together about the college. Hesuggested that the youthful college president might want to unpack and get settled and that dinner would be readyin about an hour.

I ascended the staircase to one of his many guest rooms. Everything around was elegant and strange. Could Ispeak freely and adequately in this plush environment? The statement of a very practically minded native WestVirginian came to my mind: "Remember when you contact those wealthy people for the college, they have to washtheir necks and put on their trousers the same as you." I already had sensed that people of means neededworthwhile projects and unselfish friendship just as much as other human beings. They must of necessity howeverbuild a shell around themselves to stave off the scavengers who lurk around every corner and are ready to pounceon their prey for purely selfish reasons.

During most of my presidential years, I had noted, as a regular churchgoer, that often ministers decried wealth andspoke critically of wealthy individuals. They were critical as though all wealth was gotten through illicit means.Often the poor were elevated as being the unselfish saints of the world. I don't think Jesus really said that Ruthand I always said we did not envy the wealthy with their riches. We felt some were captive to their wealth and thatwas tragic, but others did untold good. We knew some poor people who were captive also to themselves and werepoor because they would not venture out. I thought of our experiences as I got ready to share with RJ. I admiredhim and his business expertise. I only hoped as an active Methodist tht he would feel about possessions as JohnWesley advised: "Earn it, invest it, and share it."

"Why would a multi-millionaire like R. J. Funkhouser make a sizeable donation to an unheard-of institution likeAlderson-Broaddus," I mused as I looked from a third floor window over the boxwood gardens and flower bedsbelow. Would my host think I was one of those scavengers? Most gifts are made though friendships - someone onthe Trustee Board or among alumni influences someone else. This friendship had had no time to take root so thisavenue could not be counted on. I washed and shaved. Perhaps R. J. might give for prestige reasons, Manycollege gifts have this important status but certainly not a gift to the little school on Broaddus Hill. He might sensea real worthwhile-ness in the project and in the young people who were being educated there, but what could beshown in accomplishment that could not be surpassed by several hundred other institutions? The only hope wasthat this man would launch out in faith (and a lot of risk) to help us try to defy history and waken the 'sleepinggiant." Only a dreamer, a plunger, an impetuous Peter of the Bible, could be counted on in this dilemma. Would R.J. Funkhouser be that man? A knock on the door indicated that dinner was ready.

R. J. Funkhouser was an impressive man. Although now in his middle sixties, he was still energetic and handsome.His broad shoulders, bushy eyebrows, ruddy countenance, and massive head of greying hair spoke outwardly ofinner paradoxes which one sensed immediately upon first meeting. Here was dignity and simplicity, pride andhumility, patience and impetuousness, power and weakness all rolled into one man. Although the advantages of aformal education had not been his in early life, he had become a learned man. As men sensed of Jesus in the NewTestament, but of course in different ways, R. J. walked, talked, and worked as "one with authority."

He had left his West Virginia home in his early teens to make his own way in life. His first venture was theproduction of cross-ties for a railroad company, and he succeeded by the sheer force of his business genius toproduce them better and cheaper than his competitors. Through the Funkhouser Products Company, he producedthe first deep-freeze in America and fathered the automatic soft-drink vending machine. At one time, he waspresident of nine companies, with varied interests in many different industrials enterprises.

As we sat together in the study after a sumptuous meal, I surveyed my new friend with curious and admiring eyes.I could not possibly have been like him, and I sensed some of his faults as well as his virtues, but I was thankfulthere were men with such tenacity and drive in the world. I remembered hearing of R. J.'s visit to the A-B CollegeCampus. "We were delighted to have you visit our campus a year and a half ago, and hope we can have you backagain.

"Young man, you've got a big job ahead," R. J. got right to the point: "You can't expect wealthy individuals andfoundations from remote areas to give to that institution unless you can prove that the people who sponsor it andare benefiting most by it are willing to help first."

R. J. lit another cigarette and leaned closer as he continued. "Part of the philosophy of my life has been to takepeople who were failures and to make successes of them. Take that fellow Compton from Philippi. When I foundhim, he was lying in the gutter too drunk to know enough to get up and go home. But he made a darn good editorfor the Jefferson Republican and became an outstanding citizen too. "

I had met Compton and added: "We have two of his poems hanging on the walls of our library. There should be anextra star in your crown for discovering and rebirthing a fellow with such talent." We both laughed, and I sensedrightful pride in R. J.

"But not all my attempts have been successful," R. J. hastened to add." I have had bad luck particularly withyoung college students. Some years ago, I decided on a plan to lend money for a college education to ten promisingyouth who could not afford to go on their own. I gave the money as a loan without interest but with the definiteunderstanding that after they graduated and secured a job, they would pay the money back for ten more studentsto borrow." A disappointed look stole over my host's face, and I sensed what was coming. "You know, to this day,I have received less than 10 per cent on those loans."

Without wanting to debase the younger generation, I replied, "I'm sure you've had enough successes not to giveup the philosophy of taking a risk on failures."

"That's right," R. J. replied. "If a man gave up because of a few failures or misjudgements in life, he might just aswell quit before he starts. I've been interested in several colleges, too. Several years, back, I was on the Board ofthat black college at Harper's Ferry. What a mess that turned out to be. I gave them some money to get out ofdebt, but they kept going in deeper and deeper. The administration and trustee board were filled with ministers andwomen who had no business sense whatsoever. I saw I was banging my head against a stone wall and decided togive up before I lost by religion."

Picking up the cue, I responded, "It's wisdom, I guess, for a man to know what he can charge and what he can't.Speaking of religion, I understand you often preach in small rural churches."

"My parents were very humble, religious folk in West Virginia. If I hadn't become a businessman, I wouldprobably have been a preacher. I love to speak at revival meetings."

The hour was growing late and I felt the time was ripe for a frontal approach to our immediate problem. It'sdifficult to know when is the right moment, but finally I decided there was never an easy time for a toughassignment. "R. J. , we don't know each other very well yet, but I need your help - significant help. IfAlderson-Broaddus College is to get on its feet and become a thriving institution, it must have a substantial friendlike you to take faith in it and help it break out of its vicious cycle of problems. The truth is that I do not knowwhere salary money is coming from for next month's payroll." There I said it boldly.

My host listened intensely. I thought he sensed conviction and dedication in my voice and purpose in mymotivation.

I continued, "I'm not asking that you do it alone - that would be both unwise and unfair. But I am asking you toconsider a significant challenge gift that will become a primer for me to use to prime the pump of potential givers -the way we use to do on the farm. First among trustees, the churches, and then alumni and other friends. I am notasking for myself, but I am asking for the institution and the multitude of youth it can serve in the generations tocome. You give me that challenge and I will work my fingers to the bone in an effort to meet it. If we fail, your partof the obligation will be off also."

The major "pitch" was made. My mouth was parched and heart pounding. The few seconds of silence seemeddeafening. R. J. lit another cigarette. His mind was racing over other commitments and evaluating this young manand his institution. Grasping the leather-handled letter opener from the box, he pounded it against the heavilypadded desk and asked, "What do you need?"

Although I had thought over that question and answer often, words came hesitatingly amid a flood of joy over thefact that the door seemed to be ajar. "We've got about $40,000 in current debts that are way overdue and a goodbit more in capital debts. We need enough money to meet the payroll for the next two months until student feescome in for the second semester. Increases should be made in faculty salaries and a full-time staff member shouldbe added in admission and recruitment as well as more effort placed on the cultivation of church giving. All this willtake an expenditure of more money in order to get more in return for the operations of the college."

"What do you think the Baptist churches of West Virginia can do for you next year, if they really stretchthemselves" quizzed the industrialist.

Picking a figure out of the air, but making sure it was at least double the present giving, I replied: "If properlychallenged, I believe the Baptists could give around $30,000 to $40,000 next year to the support of the college inaddition to their regular missionary giving. Of course," I said, "We need that kind of giving over a longer periodthan one year." It was growing late and both of us were tired. R. J. said: "Let me sleep on the matter and we'lltalk more at breakfast tomorrow. My butler will show you to your room for the night. I hope you'll sleep well." Irolled and tossed excitedly most of the night amid the plush surroundings, wondering what tomorrow will bring.

At breakfast the next morning, in strict business-like fashion and without any pencilling of notes (but with fullmental notation), R. J. leaned back from the breakfast table, put down his fork and formulated a sentence that Itruly believe changed the destiny of Alderson-Broaddus College forever. "President Shearer I will make you aproposition. I will give your College a challenge grant of $100,000 over a five-year period with the followingconditions. First, it will be necessary for you to get your trustees and church constituency to give you $40,000annually toward your current operational needs over each of the next five years. In turn I will give you animmediate $50,000 to get your current debts paid and to get your new regime started. The second $50,000 willcome to you at the rate of $10,000 per year over the next five years, giving you assurance of a total of $50,000annually in gifts for your operational needs conditional on your Board and constituency doing their part. I will giveyou until your commencement in May to have your trustees and church leaders accept my conditions." R. J.leaned back with a look of deep satisfaction.

I was certain no college president had ever experienced a happier moment! Our serious struggles were not over,but I believed that this was the real breakthrough that the institution needed. If I had been alone I would haverubbed my hands together in youthful glee and have sung the Alma Mater or the Doxology, and if Ruth had beenpresent I would have hugged her and lifted her off her feet - along with all three of our darling children, PattySusie, and Ricky. In stead my voice deepened and in sincere emotion I said, "I don't believe you will ever regretthis, R. J. I am sure we will do everything possible to be worthy of your faith."

Ercoupe 2707A and I flew west across the Appalachian Mountains with extra wings and a check for $50,000. I wasliterally flying on special wings all the next week and more. Of course, meeting the requirements of the challengewould be quite another matter. In order for the Funkhouser story to be complete, we msut look ahead severaldecades. We dedicated Pickett Library and Funkhouser Auditorium in 1958. The full Funkhouser "entourage" waspresent, and R. J. joined the victory of the struggling school now on its way.

Years later, I attended R. J.'s funeral in Ranson, WV. He ended a broken man. After the funeral service, hislong-time secretary Thelma Hardy, rushed up to me, with tears in her eyes and voice, "R. J.'s empire hascrumbled." His son and daughter were not able to carry on his businesses. However, his secretary made a veryastute observation and comment: "All that R. J. has left is what he gave away and the people he helped." I was sovery glad we had established and named "Funkhouser Auditorium" in his honor. We were all part of his memorial.Thank you, R. J."

As soon after Christmas as could be arranged I had an interview with Dr. Hugh Pickett at the state office inParkersburg. The Baptist executive had emphacized that any extra money to meet the Funkhouser challengewould have to be raised without interfering with the regular mission giving of the churches. Also, any pledgecommitment would have to be made by the Executive Board of the Convention. The next meeting of that Boardwas set for January 15 and 16. Pickett invited me to come to the meeting and make the "pitch" for meeting thechallenge. I thought my friend was elated over the Funkhouser challenge, but I knew it was my job, s president ofthe college, to sell the idea of the Baptist Executive board and the churches.

It was a do-or-die assignment. I prepared well for the presentation and appeared before the Baptist leadershipconsisting mostly of ministers, on the second morning of their sessions in Parkersburg. I was tense and my mouthwas dry - just as I used to get before preaching to a sizable Sunday morning congregation in New Brunswick.

My opening comments were to get the group in a relaxed and jovial mood. I told a story that I had heard from oneof the six trustees, Jim Hamer, a wonderful friend and lumberman from Kenova. The story centered on a youngfellow who had gotten married during December and very soon thereafter was completing his federal income taxreport. For the first time he proudly listed his wife as a deduction. For the amusement of the men and womenpresent, I added to the story, "You know you women are wonderful in many ways, but if your husband seemsespecially nice to you around the first of the year, you can be sure it's because he is thinking of you as a taxdeduction." Everyone laughed and when he got to the place where he was to list the number and names of thechildren, he had nothing to show in that area for he had been married only a month. Not to be entirely embarrassedor defeated in this area, however, he wrote in these words, 'Watch this space grow!' and sent it in to the federalgovernment." The audience laughed again. I added that I knew this kind of growth expectation was the objectiveeveryone there had concerning A-B College. I went into my speech.

After a review of bleak facts regarding the history of Baptist-sponsored education in general and ofAlderson-Broaddus College in particular, I outlined again some of my reasons for accepting the presidency lessthan a year before. I believed the college was important to the churches, to West Virginia, and to Higher educationin general. I reiterated some of the ideas I had propounded in my inaugural address but added a number ofspecifics. I defended our strategy of taking certain further calculated risks and referred to the College CourtResidential Units, without getting into all the gruesome details.

My final point was the Funkhouser challenge. I took time to tell the full story of the trip and conversation andhighlighted the fact that R. J. was a United Brethren-Methodist rather than a Baptist. I saved the result of the visitto the very last in an attempt to make the story truly climatic. As I relived the experience, I said: "R. J. poundedon his desk and asked "What do you need?" I told him we need a sizeable amount to pay our current debts andsome extra money to lift salaries, fill some very needy vacancies in both the faculty and administration, and getsome breathing room. The next morning at breakfast, he told me that he would give the College $100,000 over afive-year period if the Baptists would assure a minimum in gifts to the College of $40,000 per year over that samelength of time."

There were a number of audible gasps throughout the group, which made me sense the group was pleased. Icontinued. "As far as I know, this is the largest challenge offer that has ever been made to your college and itcame from an outsider not a Baptist. It will take hard work to meet the conditions, for we do not want to interferewith any present work the churches are doing in mission, in church extensions, or in camping." I looked in HughPickett's direction and noted a nod of approval. "I'm willing to give my best to lead in the effort, but I can't do italone. The task of getting budget designation from the churches over and above their present giving must be ourjob together. The proposition is in your hands." I sank in a nearby chair. There was tingling sensation through mywhole being. At first there was a hush over the group then someone stated a cheering applause. I closed my eyesbriefly and thanked the Good Lord.

The Executive Board voted to meet the challenge through designated gifts from the churches. They were pleasedthat A-B College has received a sizeable breakthrough in its financial struggles. Of course, I knew it was myresponsibility to actually raise the money. The next four months found the president, me, "beating the bushes andspanning the mountains," with the story of "The Funkhouser Challenge" In an attempt to get specificcommitments to meet the $40,000 condition. The total amount was pledged just before commencement 1952$33,000 by churches and $7,000 by our national denominational Board of Education. I was able to announce to theCommencement audience. "The R. J. Funkhouser Challenge of $100,000 has been met!" There was joy bouncingoff the walls and everyone!

The leadership of our national Board of Education played a big part in meeting the Funkhouser challenge and inthe upward movement of A-B College during the early fifties. Dr. Elmer Milton, Director of Schools and Colleges,Dr. Ronald Wells, Executive Secretary of the Board of Education, and Dr. Lynn Leavenworth, Director ofSeminaries, all became personal friends and often visited the campus. We felt strongly supported by theirpresence and encouragement. American Baptists had never considered their 25 colleges as part of the "Mission"program. Baptist-relate colleges in the north were simply given a license to raise money from churches andindividuals in their own regions. Southern Baptists included their schools in the "mission" support. We oftenenvied the southern pattern, although we sensed with strong support often came some attempt to control.

Million, Wells, and Leavenworth understood the balances needed and gave great encouragement (and found somesupport dollars for Baptist colleges including A-B) When Storer College closed in Harper's Ferry, WV., Dr.Million led the way for $125,000 of their assets to come to A-B, since much of the support for that school camefrom West Virginia Baptist mission dollars. A larger amount went to Virginia Union University to servepredominantly Afro-American students. These strong leaders sought the denomination for $25,000 annually to begiven the colleges that truly served the denomination. They were turned down in the effort, and all resigned beforethe decade concluded.

The result of meeting the Funkhouser Challenge and these national encouragements gave a lift in confidence aswell as in finances. Although, although we all knew we were far from "out of the woods" as to basic needs, letalone the niceties which every institution must have in order to do the educational task well and to compete withsister institutions. Ruth and I hugged each other tightly when I got back to Greystone, and out prayers were full ofthanksgiving to the Good Lord. We were sure He had helped pave the way for R. J. 's response."

Dr. Richard ShearerPresident Alderson-Broaddus College ( - )Box 2064Philippi, WV 26416